NEW ORLEANS — Today, Mayor Helena Moreno and the New Orleans City Council announced a $2.8M investment to urgently repair lighting around the city. Prioritized projects include the High Rise bridge in New Orleans East, Interstate 10 and other major routes. Repairs for lighting will also include converting some lighting to solar and aluminum to eliminate the threat of copper theft which has plagued the lighting infrastructure in New Orleans. In addition to repairs across the city, a portion of the funding will be utilized to hire a few electricians within the Department of Public Works to do minor repairs within city buildings. Currently, most minor electrical work is being contracted out. This is more costly.
The funding for this effort comes from a 2018 penalty fine the City Council imposed on Entergy New Orleans for deceptive practices during their efforts to build the New Orleans Power Station. A portion of the $5M fine for what was called the “Paid Actors Scandal” has been spent over time by the City Council, yet $2.8M remains.
Today’s announcement is an enhancement of Mayor Moreno’s “Light’s On” initiative. Since taking office, the mayor has focused on urgently restoring basic services including lighting. In her 2nd day in office, she launched the “Lights On” initiative, which initially prioritized lighting repairs in areas which would also receive a public safety boost with increased lighting. In three weeks, more than 600 lights were repaired.
“With improved management, we’ve already started to make improvements with lighting and now with this additional funding we’ll be able to make significant repairs and switch out copper infrastructure that keeps being stolen,” said Mayor Moreno. “I am excited about the constant collaboration with our New Orleans city council. This is the result of what can happen when we’re all rowing in the same direction—when we’re all in to make the major improvements across the city the people of New Orleans deserve.”
“Interstate lighting, especially in New Orleans East, has been a persistent concern for years that affects safety, mobility, and overall quality of life for our residents citywide. As Chair of the City Council’s Utilities Committee, I have heard directly from residents about how urgently this needs to be addressed. This investment is about finally taking action on a problem people experience every day as they travel throughout the city,” said Council President JP Morrell. “I am proud of the strong partnership between the City Council and the Moreno administration, which hit the ground running on Day 1 to address repeatedly neglected issues such as street lighting. Together, we will continue tackling long-standing infrastructure challenges and delivering the basic services our residents deserve.”
At-Large Councilmember Matthew Willard said, “This is about fulfilling a commitment to improving basic services across the city. Repairing streetlights in key areas of New Orleans, with a special focus on the I-10 corridor in New Orleans East, is important because it improves safety in our neighborhoods, illuminates evacuation routes, and makes our city more inviting. Repurposing the Entergy fine for these direct investments is the right way to put these funds to work. I’m committed to continue looking for opportunities to deliver results for our families and neighborhoods.”
“I look forward to voting tomorrow to invest money from the council’s Entergy Penalty Settlement Fund into finally lighting the interstate and highways from New Orleans East, to Hollygrove Dixon, to Lakeview,” said District A Councilmember Aimee McCarron. “Lighting our neighborhoods was one of the top two issues I campaigned on and these upgrades will make our interstates safer and more welcoming for the thousands of residents, commuters, and visitors who rely on them every day. I am happy to work alongside the administration to deliver this campaign promise we all made to the residents of our city.”
“Working alongside the administration, we identified a clear opportunity to put these funds back to work for the public good. The remaining Entergy settlement funds from the paid actor scandal will be directed toward fixing long-standing interstate streetlight outages across New Orleans,” Councilmember Lesli Harris said. “As Chair of the Budget Committee, it’s important to me that these dollars are used transparently and strategically. We first saw the impact of this work begin in District E, and I’m excited to see it expand citywide including in District B. This will deliver safer streets, improve visibility, and work to establish real accountability for our residents.”
“I’m thrilled to support this $2.8 million investment in our city’s lighting infrastructure, which will enhance safety and quality of life for residents in District C and across New Orleans by repairing key routes and preventing future thefts through innovative upgrades,” said Councilmember Freddie King III. “As a sponsor of this ordinance, I’m proud to see these Entergy penalty funds put to good use, bringing brighter streets and more efficient repairs to our communities that have waited too long for these improvements.”
“The City of New Orleans recognizes the importance of lighting for the public good. Public safety is of paramount importance to our city. I strongly support the administration of Mayor Helena Moreno working with the City Council to prioritize the repair and maintenance of every streetlight in our city, especially in and around our residential areas,” said Councilmember Eugene Green.
The High Rise is not only a vital transportation artery, it’s a key gateway for our entire city,” said Councilmember Jason Hughes. “For the residents of District E, the High Rise isn’t optional — it’s essential. It’s how families move, how workers commute, and how our community stays connected to the rest of New Orleans. Lighting this corridor is about safety, visibility, and making sure residents can travel it with confidence every single day. For far too long, lighting on the High Rise has been inadequate and unreliable. I appreciate the partnership with Mayor Moreno and my Council colleagues for working together to address this vital initiative.”
The funding ordinance was introduced at the January 28th city council meeting. It will be up for final approval at tomorrow’s regular council meeting.